I do not know how to love God except by loving the poor. I do not know how to serve God except by serving the poor.... Here, within this great city of nine million people, we must, in this neighborhood, on this street, in this parish, regain a sense of community which is the basis for peace in the world.

Common sense in religion is rare, and we are too often trying to be heroic instead of just ordinarily good and kind.

The idea that when the health of one member suffers, the health of the whole body is lowered is a teaching of St Paul which is timeless.

I believe that we must reach our brother, never toning down our fundamental oppositions, but meeting him when he asks to be met, with a reason for the faith that is in us, as well as with a loving sympathy for them as brothers.

The Gospel takes away our right forever, to discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving poor.

It is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.

What we would like to do is change the world...by crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, of the poor, of the destitute. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world.